MetalSucks

Instru-metallers Russian Circles’ new album Geneva is out now. Even Axl, who usually doesn’t get into all of the same instrumental / trippy / wank stuff that I do, is enjoying the album and described it as “really cinematic.” If you’ve yet to experience this amazing band, be sure to listen to a few tracks on their MySpace page and catch them on their current tour with Young Widows and Coliseum.

Current These Arms Are Snakes / ex-Botch bassist Brian Cook recently became a full-time member of Russian Circles after having recorded and toured with them on their last record Station. I recently emailed Brian a batch of questions about joining the band, recording the new album, balancing the workload between all of his projects, and what the future holds for Russian Circles, to which he was more than happy to respond in detail. My questions, his answers… after the jump.

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“Russian Circles” is like an onomatopoeia of band names; I have no idea what a Russian Circle is, but I do know that if the band name is spoken — not written — it’s accurate as fuck. Listen to any Russian Circles song and tell me their music doesn’t sound just like circles that are rushing, spiraling and spinning (hint: it helps if you’re stoned). Their excellent 2008 release Station was one of my favorite instru-metal releases of that year, and judging from the new track “Malko,” their new record Geneva (October 20th, Suicide Squeeze) will bring more of the same rushing, circling goodness.

Noise/post-rock fans, take note: ex-Botch, current-These Arms Are Snakes bass player Brian Cook is now a permanent member of Russian Circles. Yeah!

Listen to “Malko,” courtesy of The Fader, below:

Russian Circles – “Malko”

Catch the band on tour with Young Widows and Red Sparowes this fall. Dates after the jump.

-VN

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The name Dave Verellen should mean something to anyone who laments the 2002 breakup of Botch, the esteemed hardcore act whose legacy has made it more popular now than when it was an active unit. As the voice of that group, Verellen deserves partial credit – and perhaps a little blame – for the glut of roaring metalcore vocalists that came in his wake. From a publicity perspective, this influence strengthens the already impressive pedigree of Narrows, his latest band featuring members of noteworthy heavy ensembles such as Unbroken and These Arms Are Snakes. As evidenced by its full-length debut New Distances, the group refuses to rest on its proverbial laurels and instead goes above and beyond its participants’ discographies, yielding something truly exceptional.

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I’m admittedly a late bloomer when it comes to getting into Deathwish Records, but after buying Blacklisted’s Heavier Than Heaven, Lonelier Than God a couple months ago I knew I’d be back for the rest of the roster, which includes Narrows. You might have caught wind of this band on the free Deathwish Records digital compilation, and if “Chambered” is any indication of what the rest of the forthcoming New Distances album will sound like then we’re in for some of the heaviest hardcore of 2009. Then again, Narrows features Dave Verellen of the one-and-only Botch, so nobody should be surprised by just how AWESOME this shit is. If, like me, you can’t wait for the May 12 release date, be sure to pick up a copy of last year’s self-titled EP.

-GS

[Gary Suarez shouted at the devil, but the devil shouted back. He also writes for Brainwashed and usually manages the consistently off-topic No Yoko No. Say, why don't you follow him on Twitter?]

A few weeks ago, the Chicago-based rising instrumental metal band Russian Circles played at New York City’s Mercury Lounge as part of a short tour to whet the appetite of the masses for the release of their new record Station, out May 6th on Suicide Squeeze Records. Russian Circles were nothing short of fantastic, their aggressive brand of stoney metal punctuated by Floydian guitar work, ethereal soundscapes and dynamic drumming. Before the show, MetalSucks had the opportunity to sit down with Russian Circles’ drummer Dave Turncrantz to ask him about the new record, working with producer Mat Bayles (Mastodon, Botch, Vendetta Red, Norma Jean) the band’s formation and musical evolution, and their plans for the future. The full chat transcript after the jump.

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In my ongoing quest to talk about bands who have thus far been given the shaft by MetalSucks, here’s the video to a track from Botch’s seminal album, We Are the Romans. Botch’s members went on to form a bunch of other good bands after they broke up in ‘02, including These Arms are Snakes, which, if memory serves, is one of Kip Wingerschmidt’s very favorite groups.

In any case, like most really awesome acts that disbanded, I have a hard time believing that Botch won’t someday sully their legacy with a reunion tour. Until that day…

[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/OI0_jmR8HeY" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

-AR